Ring traveler



A. D. CARTER RING TRAVELER June 5, 1956 Filed July '7, 1952 ARTHUR DEWEY CARTER,

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS RING TRAVELER Arthur Dewey Carter, Gastonia, N. C.

Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,555

4 Claims. (Cl. 57-119) This invention relates to the art of spinning and twisting yarns and more especially to an improved spinning or twisting traveler and a novel form of spinning or twisting ring having a top flange particularly formed to accommodate the improved traveler. Although the traveler and the ring with which it is used shall be hereinafter referred to as a spinning traveler and a spinning ring, it is to be understood that the invention may also be employed as a twister traveler and a twister ring.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved traveler in combination with a spinning ring wherein the flange of the spinning ring and the traveler are provided with inter-engaging surfaces so formed as to prevent the edges of the traveler from engaging the Web of the spinning ring as the traveler traverses the flange of the spinning ring thereby preventing the edges of the traveler from forming grooves in either the inner or outer or both surfaces of the web of the spinning ring.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a spinning ring having a web portion provided with an annular top flange thereon which extends downwardly and inwardly at an angle and wherein the inner edge of the top flange is enlarged and substantially semicircular in cross section to accommodate a ring traveler which is formed in the shape of an elliptical segment in cross-section and wherein the curvature of the portion of the ring traveler which engages the inner edge of the top flange of the spinning ring is formed in substantially the same shape as that of the inner surface of the flange. Thus, movement of the ring traveler, parallel to the axis of the spinning ring, as caused by varying the tension of the yarn passing therethrough, will merely cause the curved surface of the ring traveler to move about the curved surface of the inner edge of the flange of the spinning ring, the edges of the ring traveler being formed so they will not engage the inner or outer edges of the web portion of the spinning ring regardless of any variations in angularity of the ring traveler relative to the top flange of the spinning ring.

The peculiar angularity to the top flange of the ring results in reduced friction for the reason that its plane approximates the plane of the centrifugal force exerted by the traveler, thus causing the inner end of the traveler to fit the contour of the inner flange of the ring, thus providing a much greater area of contact between the traveler and ring, thus permitting at least fifty per cent greater revolutions per minute. At the same time no lubrication of the ring and traveler is necessary.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a ring rail showing the improved spinning ring mounted in a ring adapter thereon and also showing the improved traveler mounted on the top flange of the spinning ring with yarn extending from the traveler to a bobbin;

nited States Patent" Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 in Figure l but showing the traveler and bobbin in elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the spinning ring rail, the adapter, and the spinning ring in section and showing the improved traveler in one running position thereon;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the improved traveler in a slightly different position relative to the spinning ring from that shown in Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a ring rail fora spinning or twister frame, in which a plurality of ring holders or adapters 11 are usually mounted, there being only one of the ring holders or adapters shown in the drawing. In the center of the ring holder 11 there is rotatably mounted a bobbin or other yarn holder 12 onto which yarn 14 is wound during a twisting or spinning operation. The bobbin 12 is also encircled by an improved spinning or twisting ring broadly designated at 15 having an improved ring traveler broadly designated at 16 movable on the flange thereof, in a manner to be presently described, and through which the yarn 14 passes on its way from the source of supply to the bobbin or yarn holder 12.

There are many different ways in which the spinning or twister ring 15 may be secured to the ring rail 10, and in this instance, the ring holder or adapter 11 is provided with a shoulder 17 in which the lower edge of an annular web portion 20 of the spinning or twister ring 15 is fitted. The spinning rings are usually lightly press fitted in the adapters or ring holders 11. The annular Web 20 of the ring 15 is provided with an inwardly projecting lower flange 21 which seats on the shoulder 17 of the ring holder 11.

Now, the web 20 of ring 15 has a unique form of annular flange thereon broadly designated at 22. The flange 22 is of irregular cross-sectional configuration and comprises an inwardly projecting portion 23 and an outwardly projecting portion 24, both of which are substantially semi-circular or three-quarter-circular in cross-section. The radius of the curved surface of the inner flange portion 23 is preferably substantially greater than the radius of the curved surface of the outer flange portion 24.

The flange 22 is provided with an annular groove or recess 25 in the upper surface thereof which is arcuate and tangent to the curved surfaces of the inner and outer flange portions 23 and 24. The annular recess 25 is provided to prevent the yarn 17 from engaging the flange 22 as it passes from the source, beneath the traveler 16 and to the bobbin or yarn holder 12.

It will be noted that the curved surface of the inner flange portion 23 is disposed at a lower elevation than the curved surface of the outer portion 24 of the flange 22. This prevents the traveler 16 from engaging the outer surface of the web 20 when the tension in the yarn 14 is relaxed as shown in Figure 4.

The improved traveler 1.6 is formed from a relatively narrow band of rigid material, such as stainless steel or the like, and is substantially elliptically-shaped in cross-section. Thus, the medial portion 30 is formed having a relatively large radius and inner and outer curved portions or legs 31 and 32 are formed having a relatively short radius and the radii of the portions 31 and 32 preferably being the same. It will be noted that the radius of the inner surface of the inner portion or leg 31 of the traveler 16 is substantially the same as the radius of the curved surface of the inner flange portion 23 to thereby provide a uniform bearing surface for the inner curved portion or leg 31 of the traveler 16 as it traverses the flange 22.

The lower edges of the portions 31 and 32 of the elliptically-shaped traveler 16 extend inwardly toward the web to form opposite edges 33 and 34 which edges also curve upwardly toward the medial portion 30 of the traveler 16. The edges 33 and 34 are so positioned, relative to the axes of the curved portions 31 and 32, that movement of the inner surface of the leg 31 about the axis of the curved surface 23 of the flange 25 of the ring 15 prevents the, edges 33 and 34 from engaging the adjacent inner and outer surfaces of the web 20 of the ring 15.

During normal operation of the traveler 16 in directing the yarn towards the bobbin 12, the arcuate portion 39, having a relatively large radius, is raised out of engagement with the outwardly projecting surface 24 of the flange 22. However, in some instances, the slack in the yarn 14 may be such that the traveler M vii occupy the position shown in Figure 4 and, in this instance. the inner or lower surface of the curved medial portion will ride against the outer curved 'iortion 24 f the flange 22. However, since the inner surface of the curved portion or leg 31 is caused to remain in engagement with the inner curved portion 23 of the flange 22, due to centrifugal force, this further prevents the edge 34 from engaging the outer surface of the vertical web portion 20 of the spinning ring 15.

During high speed spinning or twisting such as at l2,000 to 15.000 revolutions per minute, which is possible with this improved ring and traveler, the curved portion or leg 31 of the traveler would be in engagement with the surface 23 of flange 22 of the ring, but in this position neither of the ends 33 and 34 would engage the ring web to form grooves in the ring as has heretofore been the case in conventional spinning rings and travelers where the top flange of the rings has occupied a horizontal plane.

it is thus seen that I have provided a combination spinning ring and traveler therefor wherein the mating surfaces of the traveler and the ring are so formed that the edges of the traveler will not engage the inner or outer surfaces of the web portion 28 of the spinning ring 15 at any time during movement of the traveler about the flange 22 of the spinning ring.

The flange 22 is illustrated as being disposed at an angle of 15 degrees to the horizontal, but it is to be understood that this angle may be varied to suit various operating conditions and speeds.

in the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

I. An improved ring and traveler in which the ring has a vertically disposed annular web and an angularly disposed annular flange on the top thereof, the inner edge of the flange being on a lower elevation than the outer edge, the inner and outer edges of the flange being substantially semi-circular in cross-section, a traveler having inner and outer inwardly curved legs provided with spaced proximal ends adapted to be snapped over the flange, the curvature of the inner leg being substantially the same as the curvature of the inner edge of the flange, the distance from the inner edge of the flange to the web being greater than the distance from the inner surface of the inner leg of the traveler to the end of the inner leg of the traveler to prevent the end of the inner leg of the traveler from engaging the web of the ring, and the medial portion of the upper surface of the flange having an annular groove therein of arcuate form, the surface of which is formed tangent with the semi-circular inner and outer edges of the flange.

2. A combination ring and ring traveler, said ring having a vertically disposed annular web and an annular top flange provided with an inwardly extending inner portion and an outwardly extending outer portion, said inner and outer portions extending at a common angle relative to the Web, said inner portion being disposed at a lower level than the outer portion, the inner portion being provided with an inner circumference which is substantially semi-circular in crosssection, said traveler comprising a relatively narrow band of rigid material elliptical in cross-section with the lower portion thereof cut away to form curved inner and outer legs whose proximal ends straddle the web, the curvature of the traveler at the medial portion thereof being of substantially greater radius than the inner and outer legs thereof, the curvature of the inner surface of the inner leg of; the traveler being the same as the curvature of said inner circumference of the inner portion of the flange, and the distance from the inner surface of the inner portion of the flange to the web being greater than the distance from that surface of the inner leg engaging the innermost portion of the flange to the end of: said inner leg so as to permit movement of the inner curved leg about the axis of the inner circumference of the inner portion of the flange without the end of the inner leg of the traveler engaging the web of the ring.

3. A combination ring and ring traveler, said ring comprising an annular vertically disposed web, a top flange on said web including an inner portion and an outer portion, said inner and outer portions extending at a common angle relative to the web, the inner portion being disposed at a lower level than the outer portion, the inner and outer portions each being substantially semi-circular in cross-section, the inner portion having a cross-sectional radius greater than that of the outer portion, said traveler comprising a relatively narrow band of rigid material and being formed substantially elliptical in cross-section with the lower portion thereof cut away to form curved inner and outer legs having spaced proximal ends thereon which straddle the web, the curvature of the traveler at the medial portion thereof being of substantially greater radius than the legs thereof, the curvature of the inner surface of the inner leg of the traveler being the same as the curvature of the inner surface of the inner portion of the flange, and the ends of the inner and outer legs of the traveler being of such length and being so formed relative to the radii of the inner and outer curved portions of the flange that movement of the inner curved leg relative to the axis of the curved surface of the inner portion of the flange will prevent the corresponding end of the traveler from engaging the web of the ring.

4. A combination ring and ring traveler, said ring having a vertically disposed web and a top flange provided with an inwardly extending portion and an outwardly extending portion, said inwardly and outwardly extending portions extending at a common angle relative to the web, said inwardly extending portion being disposed at a lower level than the outwardly extending portion. the inwardly extending portion being provided with a uniformly radially curved surface defining a semi-circle in cross-section, said traveler comprising a relatively narrow band of rigid material and being formed substantially elliptical in cross-section with the lower portion thereof cut away to form inner and outer legs having spaced proximal ends thereon which straddle the web of said ring, the curvature of the traveler at the medial portion thereof being of substantially greater radius than the legs thereof, the free end of said outer leg underlying the outwardly extending portion of the flange and being adapted to engage the outwardly extending portion when the outer leg is raised, the curvature of the inner surface of the inner leg of'the traveler being the same as the curvature of the inner surface of the inwardly extending portion of the flange, and the inner leg being of such length that upward'movemcnt of the outer leg. as limited by engagement of its lower portion with the outwardly extending portion of the flange, and consequent movement of theinner curved leg relative to the axis of the-curved surface of the inwardly extending portion of the flange will prevent the corresponding end of the traveler from engaging the Web of the ring, and the flange having an annular' groove in its top surface extending entirely around the flange, and the surface of the groove being smoothly curved and blending with the semi-circular surface on the inwardly extending portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,962 Draper Feb. 14, 1893 6 Demoulin Sept. 3, 1907 Schaaf Apr. 30, 1940 Schaaf Apr. 30, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 17, 1882 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1834 Great Britain May 23, 1913 

